Reflections, Life's Truths & Essentials

A few months ago, I shared a post that contained some of my realisations, formulated as I have grown older (or is it became more experienced), the post sparked a lot of interest and comment. Whilst on holiday recently, I took my thinking a little further and this is the result.

I’ve come to accept or maybe it’s realise that life speaks to us every day.  And unfortunately all too often, we don’t take the time to listen, or we hear it whispering in the background, while other things blare louder and drown it out.  

To my kids, I remind you: You are not your parents; You are not your school degree or achievements; You are not your credit score; You are not your job; You are not the clothes you wear; You are not the size of your network of friends; You are the sum of your words, choices, and actions.

To everyone, remember these life essentials (and yes I intended some to get a laugh, and yes some are famous quotes from others - that I believe are the essentials): 

• Hang on tight to your values, especially when it feels hard.  If the cost is your peace of mind, then it is too expensive. 
• Don’t forget that family is your safe place to land.  
• Lost money can be found; lost time is lost forever. Go on adventures just because you can.  There is rarely a perfect time, and all importantly remember every journey begins with a single step.
• Be kind more than you are right.  
• People are passionate about things they are good at. Get really good at something, and you will become passionate at it. 
• Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life (write your own story, not the one someone else wants for you).  
• Success is liking yourself, the work you do and how you do it.
• A bad attitude is worse than a bad swing.  There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.
• Acknowledge me in the credits of your first film, first book or whilst you are accepting your nobel peace prize, please.
• Be the most respected person in the room.  
• Keep in mind that alcohol is not an actual food source. 
• Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.  Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.  They somehow already know what you truly want to become.  Remember the straightest of roads, don’t necessarily produce the best of drivers.
• Love hard.  Love and be loved.  And always remember you are loved.
• Enjoy the little things in life, because one day you will look back, and realise they were the big things.  
• Apologising doesn't always mean you are wrong and the other person is right, It means you value your relationship more than your ego.  And never ruin an apology with excuses.
• Mediocrity is not for you.  Be the best you can be, be better today, than you where yesterday.  
• Cereal for dinner is totally fine.  
• Learning to learn and changing yourself is progress.  Your last mistake will likely be your best teacher.  Colouring outside the lines is okay.  The great opportunity to learn, exists when you get out of your comfort zone.
• Tolerance is not about not having beliefs. It is about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you.
• No matter how educated, talented or rich you are, it’s how you treat people that ultimately tells all.
• There are 2 kinds of people: those who give and those who take.  Those who love and those who hate. Those who are trying to improve the state of the world and those who are exploiting the state of the world. Each of us has to make a choice: what do we really want? Who do we want to be?
• If you are waiting for a title to lead, you are not ready to lead.
• You cannot go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.  And the best views come after the hardest climbs.
• Half the battle is showing up, and when you are going thru hell - keep going.  
• In a celebration, you lead from the back. In a crisis, you lead from the front.  Only the strongest leaders demonstrate this practice.
• Appreciate the people who tell you the truth; who expand your mind; who open doors for you; who make you laugh; and who inspire you to grow.

And if you are still reading this, here's a challenge for you... have you made yourself a bucket-list. "Every man dies - but not every man really lives nor loves", and with that in mind I have commenced my journey to close out more of my bucket-list items than I have in the past. That said, the other realisation I have come to, is once I complete one or two of them, I must always add more, I assume that's a good sign!

In closing from me to you, thank you for your expectations, your reactions and your love today and everyday. Please, please, please take the time to listen to the words of your song, take some time to smell the roses and all importantly take some time for yourself. Spend some time listening closely to your life's language, believe what you heard and honour it. Give yourself that gift. Thank you and all the best for the year ahead.